The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-12-21
TIE TARIFF ISSUE
representative Mills Agrees With President
CltVsliHd's Position. !.
He Thinks That This Winter Will See Some
Reduction in the Present Taxes
Blaine TaIk-The Message.

NEW York, December 1.-The Worlds
Washington correspondent has had an in
terview with Representative Mills, OF
Texas, who will probably be Chairman
of the Committee of Ways and Means. he
is quoted as saying:
II heartily .sgree with President Cleve-
lands tariff ideas as put forth in his mes
sage. While sn ad valorem tariff is tbs
only fair and wise measure, still will vote
for specific tariff, if by that means 1 can
get bill passed reducing taxes"
"Do you think bill will be passed by
Congress reducing the tsriffH
If Congress does its duty it will pass
some measure lowering duties and decreas-
ing revenue"
''Do you think there will be much diff
ference of opinion about the bill~
''Well. there are many interests that
imagine they will be hurt by low duties
and helped by high ones, and, of course.
they will be heard from, but | hope We
may be able to harmonic these conflicting
opinions and pass bill making substantial
reductions"
'WilI the bill. do you think, pass the
Senate"
81 cannot tell about that. Il am inclined
to think some bill will pass the Senate. II
may not be what we want, and We may
quarrel some over it in q legislative way
and then ogree on something. Constituted
as the two houses are now, II is hard to
predict what phase the bill will wear when
it gets through, If it should succeed at
all.''
do you think that tariff will be the
issue in the campaign of 1882"
There is no doubt OF it, and am glad
that we have the battle pitched on it. We
can win the fight If We do not get frighten-
ed and fly the field"
do you think that any measure affect
Ing the tariff that may be passed by this
Congress will make itself felt in the coun-
try at large in time to have any effect on
the campaign of 1882"
"If the tariff is lowered considerably and
the bill should be passed by the first OF
April, to take effect June 30, the price OF
of our exports will go up before the bill
takes efft ct, and before November improv-
ed condition of agriculture, manufactures
and commerce Will be very perceptable."
would you reduce or repeal the inter
nal tax on tobaccop
mo, would not if could pass the bill
by myself, but cannot, and shall have
to get the best 1 can and be content with
it. The President has laid down in his
message the true principles-tax luxuries
high, necessaries of life low, If taxed at
sll. People can do without tobacco better
than they can do without shirts and
| shoes"
"The Republicans say the Democrats are
in favor of free trade and mean to do away
with customs"
THAT is all silly. We speak OF free
trade as we do of free men. Yet free men
| have to be taxed to support the Govern
ment and so does trade. When we say free
men, we mean men who refuse to wear IN
necessary burdens, and when we speak of
| free trade we mean trade stripped of uu-
necessary burdens. We have had custom
houses and tariffs from the beginning and
| will have them to the end"
Mr.. Mills expressed confidence that q
| tariff measure would pass the House with
/ out debate and that it would bo presented
| to the Senate at an early day.